This is why I’m glad the 15PM in the UK still has the physical sim
this post was submitted on 13 Nov 2023
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Let me tell you, I loathe eSIM. I will sell my youngest child to get a nano SIM slot back. I have t-mo and they need you to call them and then they need to send a 1 time randomized PIN via SMS to read back to them... Except if you have no functioning eSIM or another line they can send it to on your account, how else would you do it? Oh, that's right... GO TO THEIR STORE! This defeats the whole point of having any SIM to begin with. They wont even send an EMAIL of the PIN to you...
SIM cards feel like an extremely dated concept. You need a random bit of plastic to authenticate yourself with an online service? It’s just that the infrastructure around eSIM hasn’t really caught up to the point where they are as convenient as SIM cards, but we will get there.
I didn't realize how much of a pita an esim would be until I had to use one (I bought a U.S. Iphone esim only). So until they are way more ubiquitous I will most likely go back to a phone that uses regular sim cards.
That sounds like a T-Mobile issue?
Well that sucks. But specifically that’s T-Mobile having a shitty policy. No doubt supremely frustrating though.
Even more so if your phone is locked to a carrier
Use an app like Airalo and buy one of their country-specific plans. Much easier.
Yeah I’m with the physical sim crowd on this one. It’s utterly stupid that Apple is doing this. Incredibly inconvenient and a huge hassle for those of us eu travel. Yea I understand the esim is the future, but the future hasn’t caught up with a large portion of the world. I wish you could easily buy the other versions of iPhones in the US, which still have sim slots. Apple: “nope, nobody travels, nobody travels, and if they do they should pay exorbitant international roaming charges becaus…” Now I’ll wait for the Apple fan club to “let me have it”.
There is a study out there that suggests that middle class Americans only travel internationally once per decade, and that includes Mexico and Canada. I’m guessing that Apple figured out that they could save a few bucks in costs and operational efficiency per phone by removing the physical sim. That extra profit was enough to screw over the small minority of us who have the privilege of visiting other countries pretty often.
On the flip side, the cellular providers won’t catch up until they’re forced. They still haven’t bothered with carrier side RCS. Apple’s going eSIM as much as possible now, and how much you want to bet Samsung and Pixel will follow through within a year or two?
But none of that diminishes the pain points for those of you traveling internationally this year, I know.
Here in the Phils, we have one esim and one physical sim. Hongkong and China has two physical sims.
Next time try using airalo buy a prepaid e sim and enjoy
That looks like a better deal than the app I was using, ubigi
Had to go for Ubigi (and was very happy with it) when I went to Japan because I read tons of terrible reviews about airalo in Japan specifically. Great service in general but seemed to have horrible coverage in Japan
Hmm
Airalo is absurdly overpriced, just like most eSim services. A month ago I travelled to Egypt and had the option to get an eSim in there (around 27-30$) or wait and see my options and the airport. I got a prepaid SIM card for 8 bucks that offered me more than Airalo lol for a third of the price. Thanks god that the 14 Pro and 15 Pro still have a physical sim card slot outside the US
I feel ya, I just bought a 15 plus in the U.S. but I live in México and it's been a total pita. The other problem is you can only register your Apple ID in one country/region so many apps I need in one country are not available in the other and you can only change it once every 90 days.
You can make a second Apple ID and switch between the two for 2 different countries app stores that is what I do to get local apps for 2 countries.
Thanks for the tip, I hadn't thought of that. I'll give it a try!
My samsung j7 with dual Sim slots and a micro sd slot 🫡😂
If I’m traveling, I’m paying my carrier for their international plan. I’m not spending thousands of dollars on an international trip just to worry about saving an extra $50-$100 on cell service. Plus I do not want to waste a single second hassling with a foreign carrier. I only have so much time to enjoy my vacation. Dealing with telecoms is not in my to do list.
The problem is the carriers. Some are too incompetent and slow to update their systems. While on the other hand they are other carriers who make it so easy to issue and transfer eSIMs.
When you experience the latter it’s an amazing experience.
I went to Bali recently and the Indonesian government requires ID to purchase an eSIM. I purchased an eSIM off Klook and the seller had my eSIM QR code ready after I messaged him my passport photo copy. Quick and easy transaction imo. eSIM was registered to my phone BEFORE I went on the trip. I think eSIM is fine for most people, it’s just a growing pain of getting used to a new technology. I think it’s easier than getting a SIM card.
Go buy a non us phone. You get a sim tray with it.
I think the US is the only place where they sell eSIM-only models as of now.
Why not buy a European version then?
I got my 14 Pro thinking it would be the last iPhone with a physical SIM card slot, but nope. The iPhone 15 Pro also has it (at least in Europe)
I just purchase my sims before I travel. Very easy.
How would I go about buying a Canadian 15PMin the usa?
Can't you just use airalo to get ESIM? It's more expensive but no papers required
eSIM apps like Airalo and Holafly will sort you out. Went to Morocco a few months ago and was able to get unlimited data eSIM for about 20$ for the week I was there. And when I was done I just deleted it. I prefer that to having to buy a SIM card for a week’s stay. Airalo has an eSIM specifically for Chile
You can use one of those data eSIM: AirAlo for one time usage. Three Hong Kong for a HK number and cheap data roaming, valid indefinitely (a year if you don't use it).
Many people are mentioning buying the non-US model. Unfortunately this comes with some trade-offs, the biggest is the lack of UWB. The non-north American model lacks some additional bands. In addition to that, there is the issue of warranty support and AppleCare.
I really dislike the face that Apple removed the sim tray for US models specifically because of issues getting service on travel. The concept of eSIM is great but the implementation so far here in the US has been generally poor.
At this point, my plan is to just take an iPhone SE with me when I travel and not even bother with trying to do an eSIM outside of the US.
Get the Hong Kong version which has dual physical SIM!
I can't believe Apple is subjecting you guys to eSIM only iPhones.
Bought my iPhone in America because it was almost $400 nzd cheaper and now I’m a tiny bit regretting it because it’s been a week and a half and Vodafone NZ messed it up so badly I haven’t had service the entire time.
In NZ they still do iPhones with physical sims and I didn’t know that America was eSIM only so I had to change providers and because I wanted to keep the number I have had for the last 10 years it meant I had to transfer it to another company because mine doesn’t do eSIM.
Anyway, if you’re from a country where they do physical sims don’t buy an iPhone from a country that does eSIM only phones 🥲
Adding an eSIM via many services has been pretty easy for me. I used Orange in Europe and added it while in the US very easily, activated it once my phone connected to towers there. There appear to be quite a few options for South America as well.
In a lot of ways it was easier than physical sim and it was nice to have my local service and European service active simultaneously.
I have multiple phones I rotate between using. Some don't have eSIMs and when I want to move service to a different phone I'd need to set up the eSIM on the different phone or go and buy a new pSIM.
Too much of a hassle for me. I won't buy anymore iPhones till Apple returns the pSIM slot.
You might have a better chance with a small street vendor. I noticed this is the case for some countries where the small street vendor sometimes doesn’t care to check your ID even when they are required to. Not sure if this is the case in Chile.